Dear Residents of St. Johns County,
Some of you have reached out with questions and concerns about the recent addition of a Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs to the Clerk’s Office. I recognize the initial press release, while sufficient in announcing the position, failed to provide the “why” this position is needed. I apologize for this oversight and hope the following letter and future conversations explains the need and why more fully.
I created this position to strengthen our ability to fight for you — the residents we serve — by primarily ensuring our courts are adequately funded. In summary:
- In 2008, the State of Florida took over court funding from individual counties, and the current funding model does not adequately cover our court operations.
- To help overcome this shortfall and ensure we are able to meet our critical mission, the St Johns County Board of County Commissioners created a court subsidy budget which contributed almost $900,000 in FY 2025.
- My goal is to find a long-term solution by bringing in a senior advisor who has the experience, relationships and skill-set to address this critical need and provide input on court processes and our court facilities as well.
To provide additional details, all court-related fees and fines are now pooled at the state level and then dispersed to all 67 counties according to state law. Each year, the State of Florida sets our “budget authority,” which dictates the maximum amount of funding our office is allowed to retain for court operations. If we collect more than that amount, the excess revenue must be returned to the state. Last year alone, we were required to send back $1.8 million.
At the same time, the fines and fees to access the court system have not changed since 2008, despite the rising cost of doing business. For example, the fee to file a small claims case has remained constant at $300 for 17 years while labor costs have increased exponentially. This difference has created a widening gap which threatens our ability to attract and retain staff to perform our critical functions.
To make up some of the difference, our Board of County Commissioners has graciously contributed to a court subsidy budget. This local subsidy reached almost $900,000 in Fiscal Year 2025 to keep up with inflation, and the increased cost of operations. Without this local subsidy, we would not be able to maintain current staffing levels, which could result in service delays and reductions that affect everyone — from families navigating legal issues to vulnerable adults and those involved in public safety matters. My goal is to reduce the fiscal burden being placed on our county government by securing the needed funding from Tallahassee.
This funding imbalance continues to impact our office today — last year, I was only able to provide a 4% cost-of-living adjustment to our staff, compared to 7% increases offered by other county agencies. Our office is staffed with incredibly talented and committed professionals who perform essential services every day on your behalf. I work hard to retain their dedication and prevent them from falling behind.
This is where the new Senior Advisor role comes in. We’ve recognized the need for a role that would help us advocate for policy changes and legislation in Tallahassee. The primary goal of the new Senior Advisor is to reduce reliance on subsidies from our local County by fixing and securing sustainable state funding. That will allow us to focus more fully on delivering the court services our growing community deserves.
To ensure this position would be effective from day one, we needed someone with deep, inside knowledge of the legislative process — someone with a proven track record of delivering results for both St. Johns County and Clerk’s Offices across Florida. Our former state senator brings exactly that expertise. In 2023, he played a key role in securing over $40 million in additional funding for Clerk’s Offices statewide — a critical step toward addressing longstanding funding gaps. While this progress is significant, there is still much work to be done to achieve the sustainable support our office needs.
In addition, the Senior Advisor will be involved in court policy development at the state level and facilities management here at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center to ensure our courthouse is being maintained sufficiently. Altogether these responsibilities require extensive experience navigating intergovernmental challenges, working closely with stakeholders, and finding solutions.
At the end of the day, adequate funding is essential to maintaining a fully functioning court system and Clerk’s Office — it is critical to protecting the most vulnerable, resolving disputes, and upholding justice. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office has the resources it needs to fully serve you and all residents.
As always, I am here for you and please know it is an absolute honor to serve you. If you have questions, concerns, or simply want to discuss this further, I welcome the opportunity. I can be reached by email at BPatty@stjohnsclerk.com or directly on my cell at (904) 599-8688.
Sincerely,
Brandon J. Patty
Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
